Leeds set to complete first January signing in next 24 hours

Leeds expect to complete a new deal for Liam Bridcutt on Monday after reaching an agreement with Sunderland.

The midfielder’s initial emergency loan term at Elland came to an end following the Championship club’s clash with MK Dons on Saturday.

Speaking after the match to BBC Radio Leeds, manager Steve Evans said that he believes a deal for Bridcutt will be sealed on Monday and also hinted at a move for Norwich’s Kyle Lafferty.

“It won’t be his last game,” said Evans. “Nothing has been signed, but we have an agreement with Sunderland that they will be honouring, and Liam Bridcutt’s told me, 100%, that he wants to be at Leeds United until the end of the season and review his position with Sunderland then. My understanding is that it will be completed on Monday.”

Evans has claimed that Leeds’ 1-1 draw against MK Dons on Saturday was proof of why his team need reinforcements in the January window even though they extended their unbeaten sequence to seven matches.

Target man: Leeds are keen on a deal for Kyle Lafferty

An own goal three minutes from time earned Leeds a flattering point against MK Dons and Evans is convinced that some new additions could potentially propel his team into play-off contention.

One player on their target list is Northern Ireland international Lafferty, and Evans admitted that talks are ongoing with Norwich over a deal for him.

“Someone told me that the big man was here today, so he must have paid in because he didn’t ask for a ticket. Look, I’m not going to be disrespectful to Alex Neil and David McNally, the chief executive, but the clubs are talking and we’ll see where it goes,” he explained.